Lindsay Corporation
An American manufacturer of agricultural irrigation systems, farm and construction machinery, and transportation infrastructure equipment.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Lindsay Corporation is an American industrial manufacturer headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. The company was established in 1955 in Lindsay, Nebraska, and became principally associated with the Zimmatic brand of center-pivot irrigation systems. Center-pivot equipment distributes water through a rotating sprinkler structure that moves around a central point, allowing growers to irrigate large fields with comparatively controlled water application. Lindsay’s irrigation business has expanded beyond the mechanical structure itself to include pumping, controls, remote monitoring, variable-rate application, and decision-support software. The company’s historical identity was Lindsay Manufacturing Co. before it adopted the Lindsay Corporation name. Its agricultural business has been supported by international operations and acquisitions. In 2004, the company’s African unit acquired Stettyn, a South African manufacturer of center-pivot systems based in Bloemfontein. In 2010, Lindsay acquired WMC Technology Limited of Colyton, New Zealand. WMC had developed a commercially available variable-rate irrigation system that used solenoid valves to alter water application along a center-pivot machine. This technology complemented Lindsay’s broader effort to make irrigation more responsive to crop conditions, field variability, and water availability. Lindsay also developed a second major business area in road and transportation infrastructure. In June 2006, it acquired Barrier Systems Inc., a company founded in 1985 and known for the Quickchange Moveable Barrier system. The system is designed to change roadway lane configurations by moving a barrier, enabling traffic capacity to be adjusted as congestion patterns change. This gave Lindsay a presence in highway safety, traffic management, and transportation construction equipment rather than limiting the company to agricultural machinery. A further diversification step came in January 2008, when Lindsay purchased the outstanding shares of Watertronics Inc. of Hartland, Wisconsin. Watertronics designed, manufactured, and serviced water-pumping stations and control systems for golf courses, landscaped areas, and municipal applications. The acquisition broadened Lindsay’s water-management capabilities into pumping infrastructure and non-agricultural markets. Corporate and leadership changes accompanied this expansion. Gary Parker joined Lindsay Manufacturing in 1971, became president in 1984, and chief executive officer in 1989. He retired as CEO in 2000. Howard G. Buffett, who had served as a director since 1995, became chairman in 2002; Michael N. Christodolou became chairman on January 21, 2003. Lindsay’s shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on October 21, 1997, and were included in the Palisades Water Index’s US Water Index. In the digital irrigation field, Lindsay added FieldNET Advisor to its existing FieldNET platform in April 2017. FieldNET provides remote irrigation monitoring and control, while FieldNET Advisor uses a crop-growth model to generate irrigation scheduling guidance and recommendations. This product direction reflects the company’s broader positioning around water-use efficiency, connected equipment, automation, and data-assisted farm management. Lindsay’s principal business scope therefore spans agricultural irrigation, water pumping and controls, farm and construction machinery, and road and railroad infrastructure equipment. Its best-known market identity remains tied to Zimmatic center-pivot irrigation, but the company’s portfolio has also included variable-rate irrigation, digital farm-management tools, highway movable barriers, and specialized water systems.
History
Lindsay Corporation was founded in 1955 in Lindsay, Nebraska. Originally known as Lindsay Manufacturing Co., it developed a manufacturing business centered on agricultural equipment and became particularly recognized for Zimmatic center-pivot irrigation systems. The company later established its corporate headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. The center-pivot irrigation format became the foundation of Lindsay’s agricultural identity. Such systems rotate around a fixed central point and distribute water across large circular fields. Lindsay’s later portfolio extended from structural irrigation equipment into pumping, electronic controls, remote supervision, variable-rate application, and software-based scheduling. This progression connected the company’s traditional machinery business with more precise and data-supported approaches to irrigation management. Gary Parker was a significant early executive in the company’s development. He began working at Lindsay Manufacturing in 1971, became president in 1984, and was appointed CEO in 1989. In 1992, he was named to the National Agri-Marketing Association’s Agribusiness Leader of the Year honor roll. Parker retired as CEO in 2000. Lindsay became a public company when its shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on October 21, 1997. The company’s shares were also included in the Palisades Water Index’s US Water Index. Howard G. Buffett, who had joined the board in 1995, became chairman in 2002. Michael N. Christodolou assumed the chairmanship on January 21, 2003. During the 2000s, Lindsay broadened its business through acquisitions. In 2004, its African unit acquired Stettyn, a South African center-pivot manufacturer located in Bloemfontein. In June 2006, Lindsay acquired Barrier Systems Inc. Barrier Systems had been founded in 1985 and developed the Quickchange Moveable Barrier, a system used to alter roadway lane capacity as traffic flows change. The transaction created a transportation-infrastructure business alongside Lindsay’s agricultural operations. On January 25, 2008, Lindsay purchased all outstanding shares of Watertronics Inc., headquartered in Hartland, Wisconsin. Watertronics designed, manufactured, and serviced water-pumping stations and controls for golf, landscaping, and municipal customers. This acquisition strengthened Lindsay’s position in water-management infrastructure beyond farm irrigation. On November 3, 2010, Lindsay acquired WMC Technology Limited, based in Colyton, New Zealand. WMC had created a commercially available variable-rate irrigation system in 2008. By using solenoid valves, the technology could vary the amount of water delivered beneath a center-pivot irrigator. The deal supported Lindsay’s movement toward site-specific and efficiency-oriented irrigation. The company continued this technology direction with FieldNET Advisor, added to the FieldNET platform on April 27, 2017. FieldNET provides tools for monitoring and controlling irrigation equipment, while FieldNET Advisor applies a crop-growth model to recommend irrigation timing and amounts. The product reflects the increasing importance of software, telemetry, and agronomic data in irrigation operations. By the period described in the company’s reference material, Lindsay’s activities included Zimmatic irrigation systems, farm and construction machinery, road and railroad infrastructure products, movable highway barriers, pumping stations, controls, and connected irrigation software. Its history is consequently one of gradual diversification from a Nebraska agricultural-equipment manufacturer into an international water-management and infrastructure group.
- 2017
FieldNET Advisor introduced
[1]FieldNET Advisor was added to the FieldNET platform to provide crop-model-based irrigation recommendations.
- 2010
WMC Technology acquisition
[1]Lindsay acquired WMC Technology, adding variable-rate irrigation technology from New Zealand.
- 2008
Watertronics acquisition
[1]Lindsay purchased Watertronics, adding pumping stations and water-control systems for golf, landscape, and municipal applications.
- 2006
Barrier Systems acquisition
[1]Lindsay acquired Barrier Systems and its Quickchange Moveable Barrier transportation technology.
- 2004
Acquisition of Stettyn
[1]Lindsay’s African unit acquired the South African center-pivot manufacturer Stettyn.
- 2003
Michael N. Christodolou becomes chairman
[1]Michael N. Christodolou assumed the chairmanship on January 21.
- 2002
Howard G. Buffett becomes chairman
[1]Howard G. Buffett became chairman after serving as a company director since 1995.
- 2000
Gary Parker retires as CEO
[1]Parker retired from the CEO position.
- 1997
New York Stock Exchange listing
[1]The company’s shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on October 21.
- 1992
Gary Parker receives agribusiness recognition
[1]Parker was named to the National Agri-Marketing Association’s Agribusiness Leader of the Year honor roll.
Products and positioning
An agricultural and infrastructure equipment manufacturer positioned around efficient water management, connected irrigation, farm mechanization, traffic management, and specialized public-works equipment.
Agricultural irrigation equipment
Zimmatic center-pivot irrigation systems
Zimmatic is Lindsay’s best-known irrigation equipment brand. Its center-pivot systems rotate around a central pivot and distribute water across broad agricultural fields. The product family forms the mechanical foundation for Lindsay’s irrigation business and can be combined with pumps, controls, monitoring tools, and variable-rate technologies.
Connected irrigation management
FieldNET
FieldNET is Lindsay’s platform for remotely monitoring and controlling irrigation equipment. It extends the company’s offering beyond physical center-pivot machinery by giving growers digital tools for supervising field operations and managing irrigation assets.
Irrigation decision-support software · 2017
FieldNET Advisor
Introduced in 2017, FieldNET Advisor uses a crop-growth model to produce irrigation scheduling guidance and recommendations. It is designed to support growers in deciding when and how much to irrigate, complementing FieldNET’s equipment-monitoring and control functions.
Roadway infrastructure equipment
Quickchange Moveable Barrier
Quickchange Moveable Barrier technology was developed by Barrier Systems and became part of Lindsay’s transportation-infrastructure portfolio after the 2006 acquisition. The system allows roadway barriers to be moved so lanes can be added or removed in response to changing traffic direction and congestion.
Water-pumping infrastructure
Watertronics pumping stations and controls
Watertronics products include designed, manufactured, and serviced water-pumping stations and control systems. Following Lindsay’s 2008 purchase of Watertronics, these offerings expanded the company’s water-management activities into golf, landscape, and municipal applications.
Precision irrigation technology · 2008
Variable-rate irrigation systems
Variable-rate irrigation technology varies the amount of water applied under a center-pivot machine. The WMC system acquired by Lindsay used solenoid valves to support differentiated application, helping connect irrigation hardware with field-specific water management.
Brand decisions
2017
Add FieldNET AdvisorProduct launchBackground
Lindsay was extending its irrigation machinery business with connected controls and agronomic decision support.
Action taken
On April 27, Lindsay added FieldNET Advisor to the FieldNET platform.
Aftermath
The platform gained crop-growth-model-based irrigation scheduling and recommendation capabilities.
2010
Acquire WMC TechnologyM&ABackground
Lindsay pursued precision irrigation capabilities that could vary water application according to field and crop requirements.
Action taken
On November 3, Lindsay acquired WMC Technology Limited of New Zealand.
Aftermath
The deal added variable-rate irrigation technology based on solenoid-controlled water application beneath center-pivot systems.
2008
Purchase WatertronicsM&ABackground
Lindsay expanded its water-management activities into pumping infrastructure and non-agricultural applications.
Action taken
On January 25, Lindsay purchased the outstanding shares of Watertronics Inc.
Aftermath
Lindsay added pumping stations and control systems serving golf, landscaping, and municipal markets.
2006
Acquire Barrier SystemsM&ABackground
Lindsay diversified beyond agricultural machinery into transportation and roadway infrastructure.
Action taken
Lindsay acquired Barrier Systems Inc. and its Quickchange Moveable Barrier technology.
Aftermath
The acquisition added traffic-management and lane-reconfiguration equipment to Lindsay’s portfolio.
2004
Acquire Stettyn through the African businessM&ABackground
Lindsay sought to expand its international center-pivot irrigation manufacturing presence.
Action taken
The company’s African unit acquired Stettyn, a Bloemfontein-based South African center-pivot manufacturer.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Lindsay’s African irrigation operations.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Lindsay Corporation announces fourth quarter fiscal 2026 earnings conference call and webcast[2]
Reported:
Lindsay Corporation announced a conference call and webcast to be held for its fourth quarter fiscal 2026 earnings.
Sources2 sources
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